Kenyan Tony Were didn’t seem to have a chance in life.
"I was born to a deaf mother," Were said. "She separated from my dad when I was 2. She could barely keep us alive."
Enter the African Children’s Choir. See the choir that Were now chaperones on Sept. 15 at the Colonial Heights United Methodist Church in Kingsport, Tenn. Were sang in the ages 7-11 choir from 1990 to 1993.
"It was a godsend when someone told me about the choir," Were said on Tuesday by phone from Kinney Lake, Alaska.
Formed in 1985, the African Children’s Choir tours in two troupes throughout North America and in Europe. Money raised from performances funds educations for the children in the choirs as well as children from economically ravaged countries in Africa.
"Each tour lasts from 12 to 18 months," said Phil Siegel, spokesman for the African Children’s Choir. "At the end of their experiences, they each go to a boarding school in their home country, and their education is paid for."
There are 25 children in each of the two choirs.
When reached in Alaska, Were spoke over the happy sounds of the children playing in the background.
"They’re just running around, kicking a ball around," Were said. "I’m very far from home [in Alaska]. Don’t know where it’s at on the map. Home is Kenya, East Africa. We don’t get this cold at all."
But hey, Were sure isn’t complaining. Instead, he laughed and recalled his first visit to America, as an 8-year-old member of the choir.
"It was a whole new planet, a whole new world," Were said. "Look at the buildings! Look at the lights! And the food!"
Now that’s exactly what each of the kids in the choir that will perform in Kingsport and beyond thought as well upon entering America. Consider that they came from soul-grinding poverty where famine and disease knocked on doors like unwanted neighbors that won’t go away.
"I know exactly what these kids feel," Were said. "All you know is the slums, the mud huts. Now, they’re in big busses, and everybody is coming to see them sing."
Boy do they sing. The African Children’s Choir has performed on "American Idol" and with such luminaries as Faith Hill and Annie Lennox.
"They sing songs from different cultures," Siegel said. "They play drums. They dance. Some of it is gospel music. All of it is uplifting."
Songs typically performed include sing-alongs like "This Little Light of Mine," "He’s got the Whole World in His Hands" and "Oh, Happy Day."
"I will tell you that you can’t walk away without falling in love with them," Siegel said. "They are as sweet as can be."
The show is free of charge. However, patrons can sign up to sponsor a child either with one-time or ongoing donations. That money helps to make possible educations for children who otherwise would never have such an opportunity.
Take Were. Thanks to his participation as a child in the African Children’s Choir, he received an education that culminated with a college degree in journalism.
Now, he’s 29 and helping to stoke that which swirls all about the choir.
It’s theme? Hope.
"Hope alive," Were said. "It keeps these kids out of the gutters. They are the poorest of the poor. You will see hope alive in them."
TOM NETHERLAND
IF YOU GO
Who: African Children’s Choir
When: Sept. 15, 7 p.m.
Where: Colonial Heights United Methodist Church, Ministry Center, 631 Lebanon Rd., Kingsport, Tenn.
Admission: Free
Info: (423) 239-6031 and (423) 239-6081
Web, audio and video: www.africanchildrenschoir.com
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